Experiences of a chest infection/pneumonia caused by preventer inhaler?

[Marmosette]

I was just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar...

I have asthma which is triggered by viral infections. On a day to day basis I’m fine and I generally do not need to take a preventative inhaler, although I am prescribed one just in case. The asthma nurse advised that I only take a preventer when I start feeling cold/flu symptoms and I haven’t needed to take it for the past few years.

I’ve recently started to take the preventative inhaler (clenil) as a preventative measure with the Coronavirus going around but Im worried I’ve given myself a chest infection or pneumonia! A couple of days after taking the inhaler I started to feel throat irritation and a dry asthma like cough - then it went to my chest and now, two days later, my chest aches a bit, I’m slightly wheezy and I’m bringing up a bit of yellow mucus (no fever as yet). I also have an ongoing light flutter in the bottom of my right lung/diaphragm. It’s not likely that I have Corona as I’ve been self-isolating for 2 weeks.

Has anyone had similar symptoms after taking a preventative inhaler? Did it go away by itself or did you need treatment? I’m hoping it’ll just go away over time and clear up. With the Coronavirus situation I really want to give the GP surgery a wide birth at the moment but likewise I don’t want to take any risks and let it develop into pneumonia!

I know you can’t give me medical advice- I’ll call the GP on Monday but I just wondered how common this is.

Thanks 😊

[Poobah]

It's important to rinse the mouth throughly after inhaler use. If I don't I get a sore throat and then irritation in the windpipe etc. If I do get a sore throat I start gargling with listerine as it seems to calm things down.

If you haven't used the inhaler for some time is it out of date?

It is tree pollen season and several people on here have said their asthma has been worse recently.

As for the flutter, I've had a raw feeling in specific spots in the lungs and assume it's inflammation. Not had a flutter.

Phlegm suggests inflammation so glad you're talking to your doctor on Monday.

[Marmosette in reply to Poobah]

Thank you for your reply! Yes it could be the tree pollen- maybe it’s just a coincidence that I started taking the preventer as the weather was warming up.

[Zanmorleu]

Hi Marmosette,

Im the same as you - started taking preventer recently as a precaution against Corona and I ended up with a chest infection that is still here after almost two weeks. It’s definitely getting better and I am still taking my inhaler so pretty sure it’s not that. I’ve also ruled out dust mites and cat fur as I am still around those two things...

Maybe there’s just something going round?

I have heard of a lot of people struggling with asthma and chest problems at the moment...

Let us know what the gp says!

[Marmosette in reply to Zanmorleu]

Thank you! Yes I guess it could be. Coincidence or even maybe some dust on my inhaler 😖

I’ll let you know. Hope you feel back to full health soon

[horseblister]

If I dont rinse/gargle/spit it out then I do get a sore throat, I also use a spacer.